Shelf Element

ABSTRACT

A shelf element which is intended to be incorporated in a shelf contains, at each of its corners, an angular profile ( 1 ) whose upper and/or lower ends are to be connected to a similar angular profile ( 1 ). The shelf element contains at least one plate element ( 2 ). The plate element ( 2 ) is cut out at the corners in such a way that an angular profile (I) of another shelf element can be inserted into the angle between the two limbs ( 8 ) of the angular profile ( 1 ) without being disturbed by the plate element ( 2 ).

The invention relates to a shelf for holding objects that is composed ofindividual shelf elements which are arranged one above the other. At itsfour corners, the shelf has vertical angular profiles to which shelvesare affixed. The shelves descend from back to front so that the objectscan slide forward. With the exception of a bottom alignment, the angularprofiles of the other shelf elements are arranged so that the top endsof the two rear angular profiles are higher than the two front angularprofiles.

The connection is made in such a way that the ends of the angularprofiles are connected to each other, whereby the bottom ends forexample are shaped in such a way that their legs are recessed inward. Asa result, the ends in their end area lie flat against each other,whereby the outsides of the angular profiles are flush (DE 29614168).

If a shelf element is inserted in such a shelf that has a top,horizontal panel, the top ends of the angular profiles of the shelfelement must project enough above the panel so that the connection withthe angular profiles of the next highest shelf element can be made inthe same manner as before. The space between the lowermost descendingshelf of the top shelf element and the top panel of the just citedelement is thereby reduced.

A similar problem occurs when a shelf element is used with side wallsthat are welded or otherwise fastened to the inside of the legs of theangular profiles. In this case as well, fastening in the normal manneris impossible when the side walls extend up to the top edge of theangular profiles. Problems of this type can arise wherever there is aconnection between the angular profiles.

The invention is based on the problem of designing a shelf element thatis intended for use with other shelf elements in such a way that theconnection of the neighboring shelf elements to the angular profiles canbe made without losing space.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a shelf element having thefeatures of claim 1 and/or a shelf element having the features of claim2. Modifications of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

The cutout in the top and/or bottom panel element or cutout in the sidewall directly in the area of the angular profiles ensures that thebottom ends of the top (or the top ends of the bottom) neighboring shelfelement can be advanced further than would be allowed by the position ofthe top and/or bottom panel element or sidewall.

A particularly easy type of cutout in the top and/or bottom panelelement is provided by cutting off the corners at an angle. Thus theresulting edge runs approximately along a hypotenuse of the angle formedby the two legs of the angular profile.

Given a shelf element with four angular profiles at the corners, theinitially-cited design of the panel element can for example be only inthe area of the two front angular profiles, or only in the area of thetwo rear angular profiles depending upon the use. Given a shelf asportrayed in the initially-cited prior art, it can be sufficient tocorrespondingly design the top cover panel only in the area of the twofront angular profiles. The same holds true for the side walls.

It is particularly useful to use the invention for a shelf element thatis designed as a cabinet unit, i.e. that has two side walls, one rearwall, and one top and one bottom panel, and where the front is closed bya door.

Additional features, details and advantages of the invention are foundin the claims whose wording is rendered part of the description by meansof reference, the following description of preferred embodiments of theinvention, as well as the drawing.

The drawing shows the following:

FIG. 1 Perspective view of a shelf element designed as a cabinet unit;

FIG. 2 Plan view of a corner of the shelf element in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 Enlargement of a side view of the front, top corner area.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a shelf element that is designed as acabinet unit and is intended to be assembled together with othervertically adjoining shelf elements to form a shelf.

The shelf element contains four angular profiles 1 that run verticallyand all have the same length. The two legs of the profile face inward sothat the inside of the angle between the two legs faces to the inside.The shelf element contains a top cover panel 2 and a bottom panel thatcannot be seen in the perspective view in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the shelfelement contains a left side wall 3 and a right side wall 4 that cannotbe seen in FIG. 1. The cabinet unit can be closed at the back by a rearwall.

The side walls 3, 4 are arranged between the angular profiles 1 so thatthey are connected (for example by welding) to the insides of the facinglegs of the angular profiles. The top cover panel 2 and the floor areconnected (for example by welding) to the side walls 3, 4.

The angular profiles 1 of the shelf element all have the same length butare arranged so that the two, rear angular profiles 1 h are higher thanthe two, front angular profiles 1. At the front, the shelf element isclosed by a door 5.

This shelf element is intended for example to be connected to anothershelf element that is arranged above the portrayed shelf element. Thisshelf element therefore also contains four angular profiles 1 at thecorners that are shaped in their bottom area (see FIG. 3) in such a waythat the two legs are recessed inward by the thickness of the materialof the angular profiles. The outside 12 of the bottom areas 11 of theangular profiles 1 thuslie flat against the inside of the legs of theangular profiles 1 of the bottom shelf elements when they are connectedto the bottom shelf element.

As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the top ends 9 of the front angularprofiles 1 only extend slightly above the top side of the top panelelement 2.

Let us now consider FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the right, frontcorner area of the shelf element. The angular profile 1 contains twolegs 8 that, as is usual with angular profiles, form a right angle. Theleg 8 facing the rear is welded to the inside of the side wall 4. Theside wall 4 can for example be designed as a single piece with the toppanel element 2 that is then bent at a right angle to thereby form thepanel element 2. This panel element 2 is cut off at an angle oppositethe inside of angular profile 1 and forms an edge 7 there that leavesspace between the two legs 8 of the angular profile 1. In the area ofthe front edge 6 at the bottom in FIG. 2, the top panel element 2 isbent slightly upward.

Cutting off of the top panel element 2 at an angle allows an angularprofile to be inserted from above with its bottom end 11 that isbentinward in such a way that the bottom edge 13 of said angular profilelies below the top side of the top panel element 2. A different way ofcutting off the corner of the panel element 2 would also be sufficient;however, cutting it off at an angle is the easiest method.

Since the rear angular profiles 1 h on the top side extend furtherupward than the front ones, such a shaping in the area of the rear, twoangular profiles 1 h is not necessary. Given a shelf element in whichthe angular profiles also project only slightly or not at all beyond thetop panel 2 in the rear area, the corners could also be shaped in therear area.

Let us now consider FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the bottom area 11 of theangular profile 1 of a top shelf element opposite angular profile 1 ofthe bottom shelf element shown in FIG. 1. The side wall 4 whose top edge14 coincides with the top side of the top panel element 2 has, in thearea of its top edge, a cutout 15 that is designed so that the inside ofthe leg 8 remains free over a certain area at this location. Below thecutout 15, the side wall 4 is connected to the inside of the leg 8 ofthe angular profile 1, for example by welding. The interaction of thiscutout 15 and the cut-away corner area of the panel element 2 makes itpossible to shove the bottom end area 11 of the top angular profilesufficiently downward so that the fastening holes 16 of the top angularprofile coincide with the fastening holes of 16 in the bottom angularprofile. Screw connections for example can then be made.

In the portrayed example, the distance between the rear edge 17 of thecutout 15 from the front edge 18 of the sidewall 4 is larger than theinside length of the leg 8 of the angular profile 1. This takes intoaccount the fact that the bottom area 11 of the angular profile is bentto the rear so that the edge 19 facing the rear of this bottom area 11extends further to the rear than the corresponding edge 19 of theangular profile 1 in the top area. This is enabled by the slot which canbe seen in FIG. 3 that is formed between the edge 17 of the cutout 15and the back edge 19 of the bottom angular profile 1.

In the portrayed embodiment, the bottom ends of the angular profile 1 ofthe shelf elements are bent inward, whereas the top ends remainunchanged. Consequently, the cutouts are formed in the top panel elementand in the bottom edges of the sidewalls 3, 4. Shelf elements are ofcourse also possible in which the top ends of the angular profiles arebentinward, and the bottom ends remain unchanged. In this case, thecorner areas are shaped in the bottom panel element, and the cutouts 15are in the area of the bottom edges of the side walls 3, 4.

1. Shelf element having at least two vertical angular profiles (1),whose top (9) and/or bottom ends are designed to connect with avertically adjoining shelf element, and having at least one of a top anda bottom panel element (2) extending between the angular profiles (1),said panel element being designed in the area of least one corner facingan angular profile (1) so that the space between the legs (8) of theangular profile (1) remains free by at least the cross-sectional shapeand cross-sectional dimension of an angular profile (1).
 2. Shelfelement, especially according to claim 1, having at least two verticalangular profiles (1), whose top (9) and/or bottom ends are designed toconnect with a vertically adjoining shelf element, and having at leastone side wall (3, 4) that is fastened to the inside of a leg (8) of atleast one angular profile (1), and having a cutout (15) at the junctionwith the angular profile (1) at its top side and/or its bottom side, andthe height of said cutout corresponds to the desired overlapping sectionof the angular profile with the angular profile of the adjoining shelfelement.
 3. Shelf element according to claim 2, wherein the cutout (15)together with the edge (19) of the leg (8) of the angular profile (1)forms a slot corresponding at least approximately to the thickness ofthe leg (8) of the angular profile.
 4. Shelf element according to claim1, wherein the panel element (2) is beveled in at least one corner area.5. Shelf element according to claim 1, with four angular profiles (1),and the panel element is designed to leave free space in the area of theangular profiles (1) at one of the front of the shelf element and therear of the shelf element.
 6. Shelf element according to claim 2,wherein the cutout (15) in the side wall (3, 4) is provided at one ofthe angular profiles (1) at the front and/or at the angular profiles (1h) of the rear.
 7. Shelf element according to claim 6, having a rearwall that is fastened at the inside of the leg (8) of both angularprofiles (1 h) in the area of the rear and has cutout at the junctionwith the angular profiles (1 h) at its top and/or its bottom, the heightof which corresponds to the desired overlapping path of the angularprofile (1) with the angular profile (1) of the adjoining shelf element.8. Shelf element according to claim 7, wherein the cutout together withthe edge of the leg (8) of the angular profile (1 h) forms a slotcorresponding to approximately the thickness of the leg (8) of theangular profile (1 h) at the minimum.
 9. Shelf element according toclaim 8 that is designed as a cabinet unit having a door (5) at thefront.